Rescue through the lens; Photos to help save dogs' lives in MexicoPublished July 13, 2013

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- At the end of July, local dogs could get a chance to save a few of their own kind in Mexico.

Though the pooches won't be actually traveling to Mexico, their portraits captured through the lens of a local photographer will benefit health clinics for thousands of stray dogs and cats.

Throughout the day July 28, local photographer Tracey Buyce will hold 32,

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15-minute sessions at Saratoga Spa State Park where dogs and their owners can capture a few moments together while also helping a cause. All of the money made will be donated to CANDi International, a nonprofit organization that works to save the lives of stray cats and dogs throughout Mexico and the Caribbean through spay, neuter and adoption clinics.

Buyce, who has been a member of CANDi since January 2012, witnessed the stray animal problem while vacationing in Cancun, Mexico, with her husband in December 2011.

Though they were spending time at luxurious resorts and beaches, the streets were crowded with thousands of debilitated stray dogs, a sight that was hard for her to ignore.

At one point, Buyce ordered a dessert from a restaurant and gave it to a starved stray dog. In that moment, she knew she had to take action.

"I thought to myself, 'I'm not just going to feel bad and go home, I'm going to do something about it'," she said.

It was that night in her hotel room that she found CANDi online, and she got involved only a month later. She has since volunteered at a couple of CANDi clinics working as a photographer and will return to Cancun for another clinic this December.

Buyce noted that each clinic costs around $15,000, so the money raised from the photo sessions will cover about one-third of the cost of the upcoming clinic.

Buyce said that using her skills as a photographer provided a gateway into finding a way to fight the growing problem, and her hundreds of photos have helped put CANDi on the map.

"Photographs can get people's attention within a second," she said. "It's an instant reaction. That's what makes me feel good about giving my photography to CANDi. It's what I love to do, so why not take that and pay it forward?"

A particular example of Buyce's work was her discovery of Luna, a dog that was malnourished and cancer-ridden, in January 2013. Though Luna was just one of thousands of strays, her dire condition set her apart from the rest.

Buyce was able to acquire Luna from her owner and have her cancer treated, bringing her back to good health.

Depicted through Buyce's photos, Luna's survival story quickly attracted numerous supporters locally and nationally. Even Buyce's photography client list became a source of support, donating more than $700 to fund Luna's cancer treatment.

Luna has since found a new home with the Witte family in Saratoga.

Jenny Witte said Luna has adjusted well to life in the Spa City. "She was a little shy at first, but after only about a week she began to feel more comfortable and has really fit right in with the family. She loves coming on walks with us at the state park, she and her dog brother, Hunter, play together all the time and she has quickly caught on that the baby is the easiest to sneak a little treat from," Witte said.

Buyce hopes that more tourists in Mexico will learn how easy it is to adopt or provide care for stray animals. Putting a stray animal in quarantine isn't necessary, and tourists can simply take a stray to a veterinarian to be cared for.

Witte said Luna is the perfect dog for her and her family: "Once I saw Luna, I knew she was the right one, and she is the sweetest, most gentle little thing. We just adore her and are so grateful to Tracey Buyce and CANDi for helping bring her here to our family."

Buyce is also looking to host an art gallery to display the photos from the park sessions, along with photos of the strays in Mexico, to raise awareness.